Princeton U. to give students meningitis B vaccine

Princeton Univ. may give students a meningitis vaccine approved overseas but not in the U.S. Seven people contracted a rare form of bacterial meningitis on campus. At least one infectious disease expert thinks the vaccine is likely safe to use. (No
AP

Vaccine not yet approved in USA, but FDA OK'd importing it for possible use at Princeton.

This week, Princeton University confirmed its seventh case of meningitis this year.(Photo: Mel Evans, AP)

Story Highlights

Meningitis is spread through kissing, coughing or lengthy contact

The school has seen seven cases since March

The vaccine has not yet been approved in the U.S.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Princeton University students will soon be able to get a vaccination against a rare and sometimes deadly form of meningitis that has infected six students and a campus visitor since March.

Campus officials told students in an e-mail Monday that they hope to make the first of two doses available by early December and the second in February.

The vaccinations are to be paid for by the university and are not required. The e-mail message said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "is preparing to recommend" that all Princeton undergraduates, along with graduate students who live in campus housing, receive a vaccine that helps protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B.

The CDC says the outbreak at Princeton is the first in the world since the vaccine, Bexsero, against the type B meningococcal bacteria was approved in Europe and Australia this year, the only one for use against the strain.

The vaccine is in the approval process in the United States. Last week, the federal Food and Drug Administration approved importing the vaccine for possible use at the Ivy League school. The most recent case was reported last week.

University employees who have sickle cell disease and other medical conditions that make them more susceptible to meningitis are also urged to get the vaccine.

Meningitis is relatively rare, in part because vaccines for strains other than serogroup B have been effective. Young adults who live in close quarters are at higher risk than most populations, and meningitis can be spread through kissing, coughing, sharing cigarettes and glasses, and similar activity.

None of the seven cases at Princeton has been fatal, but about 10% to 15% of young adults who contract the disease die or develop a disability. And health experts said the outbreak at Princeton is worrisome.

"Seven cases is a big deal," says physician James Turner, principal investigator of the College Health Surveillance Network, based at the University of Virginia. "If my child was at Princeton, I'd tell him to get (vaccinated). I'd take it very seriously."

On campus, students appear relatively unperturbed by the outbreak. Freshman Warren Bein, 18, says he expects to get the vaccine — "It's better to be safe than sorry" — but he and others say most students have not done much to prevent being infected.

"People are worried, but not really worried enough," says freshman Philip Powers. "People are definitely thinking about it and concerned about it but people are still sharing drinks and stuff."